Two youngsters from Maharashtra who were allegedly planning to go Afghanistan and undergo training at an Al Qaeda camp to establish an Islamic State in the country were arrested on Wednesday, Hyderabad police said.
Pen drives containing ‘jihadi literature’, Indian passports, CD’s containing militant training programmes and cash along with other documents from them, a police press release said.
The arrested persons, Shah Mudassir alias Talha, (25), a businessman from Omerkhed in Maharashtra and Shoeb Ahmed Khan alias Pusad Shoeb alias Tariq Bhai (24) of Hingoli district in Maharashtra were reportedly in contact with some Pakistan and Afghanistan nationals through social networking sites, the police said.
Mudassir, was a member of Association of Indian Minority Students (AIMS) a cover organisation of Students Islamic Movement of India, while Shoeb is an associate of Mansoor Ali Peerboy, who is reportedly Media Incharge of Indian Mujahideen.
“An Afghan national Zahid Ali Hindi and a Hyderabad youth Mothasim Billah reportedly motivated them frequently to undertake the training. Another Pakistani, Kamaran Sha shared literature on preparation of explosives using locally available chemicals and carryout bomb blast in Maharashtra,” DCP (North) R Jaya Lakshmi said. She added, there was no clarity if the names are fictitious or real once as both the accused persons were in contact with the foreigners through social media.
Last month, Mudassir and Shoeb Hyderabad and met Mothasim, who they came in contact through social networking site 'Facebook'. The latter allegedly motivated the duo to go to Afghanistan and undertake training from Al-Qaeda in order to wage Jihad in India to establish an Islamic State, the police said. Mothasim expressed his willingness to extend all financial assistance to them and asked them to come again in October, the official stated.
The two were arrested when they came to the city to meet Mothasim on Wednesday.
“We will come to know more facts after taking Mudassir and Shoeb into police custody. The role of the extent of help provided by the locals Mir Showkath, Sameer Khan and Mothasim will also be known then,” Miss Jaya Lakshmi said.
Police invoked different Sections of Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and 66 of IT Act against them.